Nov. 2, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio - No. 7 Penn State won its 10th consecutive Big Ten women's soccer championship on Friday night with a 1-0 victory at Ohio State to cap off a 9-1 championship season. Sophomore Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.) scored the gamewinner in the 78th minute off an assist from Melissa Hayes (Cave Creek, Ariz.) to lift the Nittany Lions to victory. Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) recorded her ninth shutout of the year to preserve the win.
The Big Ten title is the first for Penn State under new head coach Erica Walsh. The title string began in 1998 and is the second-longest championship streak in Big Ten women's championship history behind Michigan swimming and diving (1987-98). Penn State women's soccer and Michigan women's swimming and diving are the only two teams to ever win 10 or more consecutive Big Ten women's championships. Northwestern women's tennis will contend for its 10th consecutive Big Ten championship this spring.
Penn State's title string is the longest active streak in Division I women's soccer.
Schoepfer was the difference in the second half, taking a team-high eight shots on the night including four on-frame in addition to her second-half goal. Sophomore transfer Hayes found Schoepfer, who after a collision with aggressive Buckeye goalkeeper Lauren Robertson was able to convert the goal in a relatively open net.
Naeher, who entered the night seventh in the nation in save percentage improved her season-long number to .896 and has a 0.52 goals against average after the shutout.
Penn State begins Big Ten Tournament action on Nov. 8 in St. Paul, Minn. as the No. 1 seed. Tournament action continues through Sunday, Nov. 11. Penn State won the tournament championship last year, the fourth tournament championship in program history.
--NITTANY LIONS--